Host Of The Party is still alive for a $370,000 pay-day in Darwin after an easy victory in the Northern Territory Derby (2000m) on Saturday.

The Victorian gelding scored by a clear-cut margin to give jockey Paul Shiers a fourth success in the classic.  “He gave me a beautiful ride,” Shiers said.  “We were in a perfect position and he travelled sweetly.”

Host Of The Party (3g Host – Pipkin by Gallo Di Ferro) angled off the heels of Purrfect Cockail at the 600 metres and put the race to bed at the top of the straight.  Filling the minors at three-length intervals were Aftaron (Charge Forward) and Mouse (Exceed And Excel).

“He put them away without much trouble,” Shiers claimed.  “He had a look around and wasn’t really tested.”

After a Geelong victory on June 4, Host Of The Party relocated to win the first-leg of the Top End Triple Crown in the Darwin Guineas on July 6.  He will now attempt a clean sweep in the Darwin Cup (2000m) on August 5.

“It will be difficult against the older horses,” Shields admitted.  “But he will have no weight and there’s more improvement to come.”

Host Of The Party is son of Swettenham Stud sire Host (Chi) and cost $24,000 at the 2011 Adelaide Magic Millions.  He is trained by Stephen Brown for a partnership that includes Dwayne Dunn’s wife Amanda and they are in line to collect a $100,000 bonus in addition to the $270,000 in combined prizemoney.

Host (Hussonet) is in the Top 5 of the Australian second-season sires’ premiership with earnings of $1.35 million.  His latest crop of yearlings were popular at the 2013 Melbourne Premier Sale averaging $85,000.

Swettenham will stand him for a $9,900 (inc gst) service fee this year.

– Karl Patterson